After talking over various matters, the discussion fell, upon the Meuse, and its position with reference to Maastricht.  Vendome held that the Meuse flowed in a certain direction.  Bergheyck opposed him.  Vendome, indignant that a civilian should dare to dispute military movements with him, grew warm.  The other remained respectful and cool, but firm.  Vendome laughed at Bergheyck, as at an ignorant fellow who did not know the position of places.  Bergheyck maintained his point.  Vendome grew more and more hot.  If he was right, what he proposed was easy enough; if wrong, it was impossible.  It was in vain that Vendome pretended to treat with disdain his opponent; Bergheyck was not to be put down, and the King, tired out at last with a discussion upon a simple question of fact, examined the maps.  He found at once that Bergheyck was right.  Any other than the King would have felt by this what manner of man was this general of his taste, of his heart, and of his confidence; any other than Vendome would have been confounded; but it was Bergheyck in reality who was so, to see the army in such hands and the blindness of the King for him!  He was immediately sent into Flanders to work up a revolt, and he did it so well, that success seemed certain, dependent, of course, upon success in Scotland.

The preparations for the invasion of that country were at once commenced.  Thirty vessels were armed at Dunkerque and in the neighbouring ports.  The Chevalier de Forbin was chosen to command the squadron.  Four thousand men were brought from Flanders to Dunkerque; and it was given out that this movement was a mere change of garrison.  The secret of the expedition was well kept; but the misfortune was that things were done too slowly.  The fleet, which depended upon Pontchartrain, was not ready in time, and that which depended upon Chamillart, was still more behindhand.  The two ministers threw the fault upon each other; but the truth is, both were to blame.  Pontchartrain was more than accused of delaying matters from unwillingness; the other from powerlessness.

Great care was taken that no movement should be seen at Saint Germain.  The affair, however, began in time to get noised abroad.  A prodigious quantity of arms and clothing for the Scotch had been embarked; the movements by sea and land became only too visible upon the coast.  At last, on Wednesday, the 6th of March, the King of England set out from Saint Germain.  He was attended by the Duke of Perth, who had been his sub-preceptor; by the two Hamiltons, by Middleton, and a very few others.  But his departure had been postponed too long.  At the moment when all were ready to start, people learned with surprise that the English fleet had appeared in sight, and was blockading Dunkerque.  Our troops, who were already on board ship, were at once landed.  The King of England cried out so loudly against this, and proposed so eagerly that an attempt should be made to pass the enemy at